Cyclones

A cyclone watch for southern Queensland and northern New South Wales is cancelled as Tropical Cyclone Oma weakens to a category one system, but damaging winds and abnormally high tides are still expected to wreak havoc along the coast.

Twice in his career, journalist James Dunlevie has switched from being a reporter covering a natural disaster to a resident dealing with it up close. Here he reflects on what it's like being on the other side of the news story.

The tropical cyclone is currently on the north-east Northern Territory coast between Port Roper and Port McArthur, just west of Bing Bong, and may reach category four intensity before crossing the Queensland coast tomorrow.

Destructive winds, possible flooding and wild weather is expected to batter much of Queensland over the coming days as the weather bureau predicts severe Tropical Cyclone Owen will intensify into a category four system today.

Residents in the north-east Top End, including Cape Shield and Groote Eylandt, are advised to make preparations for a tropical cyclone expected to bring gales and heavy rainfall over the next 24 hours.